Saturday, June 21, 2025  

Today's Scripture
1 Kings 19:15–16, 19–21

Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.

So he set out from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Then Elijah[a] said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah and became his servant. (NRSVUE)

Reflection

Besides (perhaps) close family members and best friends, who would you blindly follow if asked to do so? In our post-pandemic world of immense skepticism and distrust, it’s hard to imagine who among us would rush like Elisha did to follow prophet Elijah and become his apprentice. 

Elisha must have thought about it, even for a brief moment, because in addition to leaving his family and his considerable career, he had to realize he would face great danger from Israeli officials who hunted prophets then. Yet Elisha didn’t look back. 

What would it take for you and me to follow Elisha’s example? What must we give up to embrace the future God gave Elisha and would make for us? And how can we experience God’s call on our lives? 

To me, the answers to these questions define discipleship: the commitment, spiritual growth, and lifelong journey to become more like our Savior in our focus, attitudes, and behavior. It requires a hands-on approach. And, like Elijah tapping Elisha, discipleship creates disciples. Today’s 1 Kings 19 passage also has generated this hymn associated with it.

Prayer

Our heavenly Father, we pray for clarity and wisdom to discern your calling in our lives. And let us grasp that while your calling may require sacrifice and change, it ultimately leads to a life of consequence and fulfillment. Amen.  

Written by Tim Schellhardt, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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